Libya

The Roman & Greek Ancient Cities

Leptis Magna

Leptis Magna is situated 100 km. to the east of Tripoli, Leptis Magna is without a shadow of a doubt, the most glorious Roman Archaeological site in the Mediterranean. Leptis was originally built by the Phoenicians ( The Canaanites ) at the mouth of Wadi Libda in about 1000 B. C. and it was known by this name to distinguish it from Leptis in Tunisia. For six centuries, the city of Leptis Magna was used as an anchorage by Canaanite ships from Tyre and Sidon during their voyages in the Mediterranean.

Libda ( Leptis Magna ) is considered one of the oldest Phoenician settlements in North Africa and in pre-Islamic times it was the capital of the three Libyan Cities known as Tripolis: Leptis Magna, Sabratha and Tripoli (Oea).

In 75 B. C. the Romans invaded the city and Leptis was transformed to a great Metropolis under the Romans and particularly during the reign of the Emperor Septimos Severus who was born in the city in 146 AD. They built monuments and various public buildings, including a market place, theatres, temples, baths, a race track, a wrestling arena, triumphal arches and decorated mosaic floors. During the Byzantine era ( 533 A. D.), an outer wall and some churches were built.

Leptis boasts as a splendid archaeological site with a museum and numerous well preserved Statues and monuments. Entering the site, one would be confronted by the grand four sided Severan Arch which was erected in honour of the Emperor. Tour the streets and visit the Giant Snake haired Medusa that surrounds the Forum. Leap in time and relive the ceremonies that took place at the Amphitheatre and the majestic views of the city and the shores of the Mediterranean.

Visit the Palaestra, the Nymphaeum, the Hadrianic Baths, the Markets , the Severan Basilica, the Circus and the temples of Liber Pater, Rome, and Agustus. The Arches of Trajan and Tiberius

Sabratha

The city of Sabratha is one hour drive to the west of Tripoli spectacularly overlooking the shores of the Mediterranean sea. The city was originally built by the Phoenician ( The Canaaites ) in the 6th. century B. C.as a trading post. As was the case with other cities of Tripolis, Sabratha was under the domination of Carthage; the main Phoenician settlement in Tunisia till 146 B. C.

Sabratha was later occupied and destroyed by the Nomidians and then by the Romans in 46 BC . They started to rebuild it during the 1st. century AD. Even though much of the city was destroyed by earthquakes during the 4th. century, the Punic city, the Museum of Bes, and the Great Theatre which was constructed from pink Limestone, The Temples of Isis, Hercules, and Sirapis, Liber Pater, the Mosaics of Jason Magnus, the Capitolium, the public Baths are still outstanding and provide the most prominent features of the city during the Roman times.

Sabratha prospered during the third century A.D. and became famous as a trading place for the Ivory coming from central Africa through Ghadames and Fezzan. The city was abandoned after its destruction by the Vandals who invaded North Africa from Europe. In the year 533 A. D. the Byzantines occupied the city and rebuilt much of it. Sabratha lost its importance with the advent of Islam in the region (642 A.D.) and Tripoli became the most important trade centre in western Libya.

Recent excavations lead to more discoveries of an underground cemetery dates to the 3rd. century BC. A temple was constructed above it and on one of its columns engravings of the Greek's Goddess Hericul and the Egyptian's Goddess Biss were also discovered. Also Phoenician's Pottery dates back to the 3rd. and 4th. Century were discovered in the region.

In Janzur near Sabratha a different type of underground cemetery was discovered. The cemetery was very colourful and rich in designs indicating the fact that humans remains were burnt to ashes after death.

Cyrene ( Shahhat )

When the Romans took over the Cyranaican Plateau in the First century B. C., they called the area The Pentapolis ( The Five Cities ); Cyrene, Appolonia, Barca, Ptolemais, Bernice, and Teuchira.

Cyrene is situated 200 km to the north east of Benghazi ( Libya's second city),High above sea level through stepped hillsides offering a panoramic view of the Green mountains of Cyrenaica and the virgin shores of the Mediterranean. Cyrene was founded by the Greeks in 631 BC, by some Greek adventurers coming from the island of Thera, known today as Santhorini. It was occupied in later times by the Byzantines. Then the Romans took position of the city in 96 BC. The city then was destroyed during the revolution against the Romans in the year 115. The Arabs Muslims came to the region in 642 - 643 A.D., and the new faith (Islam) has dominated the area since then.

Cyrene was a very prosperous city in which Libyans and Greeks lived together. They built roads, markets, and houses for tens of thousands of its inhabitants during 50 years. When starvation hit the Mediterranean, Cyrene was the food supplier for forty Greek cities including their capital Athens.

When the Greeks became a depleting force exhausted by wars lasting for many centuries, they had to rely on the king of Egypt to send his troops and defend Cyrene. The Egyptians helped the Greeks extend their supremacy in Cyranica until the year 322 BC when their Emperor died and was turned over to the Romans.

The Temples of Apollo and Zeus were houses of worship to the people of Cyrene where they performed religious ceremonies. The Temples and the theatres were rebuilt by the Romans in the first and second century A.D. by the Roman Emperor Tarajan who added baths and Cisterns to the temple but the city reached its peak in the 4th. century B.C. during the the Emperor Augustus rule.One of the oldest Church in North Africa was built in Cyrene by the Byzantines

Among the spectacular ruins of Cyrene are the Temples Of Apollo and Zeus, the Acropolis, The Agora, the Forum, the Stoa of hermes and Hercules, Necropolis tombs, and the sacred Sanctuary of Apollo . A museum which contains many of the collections and masterpieces unearthed in the area is situated at the archaeological site.

Tripolitania

Tripolitania, the ancient Oea, currently known as Tripoli ( Trabolus ); the historical capital city of Libya. Also known as the Mermaid of the Mediterranean.

The city was founded by the Phoenicians in 500 BC and remained a Phoenician style city until the Romans took it over after the fall of Carthage in 146 BC. Tripolitania fell under the Vandals in the mid 5th. century and by the Arabs during the 7th. century.

Tripoli remained as a commercial city and a harbour acting as the northern cross-roads linking Germa to the Mediterranean shores.

In the heart of the old Tripoli, a status of the Roman Marcos Urelius who died in the year 192 stands and can be visited, while 32 Bronze Phoenician coins found in Wadi Sulfaljeen south of Tripoli are on display in the Museum. Ashes of human remains have been discovered in clay and glass cemetery and an underground cemetery was also discovered near Tripoli harbour. This Cemetery is quiet similar to those found near Misurata.

Tripoli has a lot to offer; from the very old ruins of the Romans, the Muslims, and the Turks to the contrasts of a cosmopolitan modern city. at least a couple of days are required to tour the old city and its small and narrow street, the old Market and the Museum.

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Tripoli ; Libya's historical Capital City